Iwnrfi Serving Westfield, Scotch Plains and Fanwood Friday, December 19, 2003 Accidentlon North Ave. claim 2 lives and possession of controlled dan- THE RECOKDPKESS gerous substances with the Cleaning house intent to distribute. Police said Over the last five years, Westfield WESTFIELD — Two separate that Ruple was not charged with residents Sean and Janet Crane accidents on North Avenue operating a vehicle under the have overhauled their Victorian claimed the lives of two pedestri- influence of drugs or other motor home on Mountain Avenue, but ans last week, leaving local lead- vehicle violations. mch work remains, To read all ers to pursue options to make the Two days later, a about the couple's efforts, see Page town a safer place for pedestrians; Mountainside woman was killed B-1. and bicyclists. on the 500 block of North Avenue, On Dec. 9, Helen Freindt, 152, near the (iarwood border, while of Forked River, was struck by a crossing n section of the street vehicle when she attempted to with no crosswalks shortly before cross North Avenue near the 5 p.m. GEORGE PACCIELLO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Lord & Taylor parking lot. She Phyllis Apperman, 58, was Cast members from the upcoming Scotch Plalna-Fanwood High School production of "Let attempted to cross the busy road struck by an enstbound 1996 Miserable!," including some youngsters who will fill children's roles In the musical, sing Tuesday near a crosswalk, where drivers Dodge Caravan. She was trans- night at St. Helen's Christmas party for area homeless. are legally required to stop for ported lo University Hospital in pedestrians. Newark, where she was pro- Friendt, who was an employee nounced dead two hours after the of Lord and Taylor, died of her accident. Spreading holiday cheer wounds at University Hospital in According to Lt. John Newark shortly after the acci- Parizeau, Apperman was struck dent. while standing in the middle of Student performers, Andrew Ruple, 24, of Crnnfortl the street, attempting to cross. was the driver of the car that The driver of the minivan, 41- struck Friendt. After the acci- year-old Mohnmed Mohamed-Aly youth group put on dent, he wns charged with pos- session of marijuana and heroin (Continued on page A-2) SMlMdMStiH a show for homeless The musical play "Calling All Angels" at Calvary Lutheran Church Is just THE RECORD-PRESS otie of many holiday performances Board denies on. tap at local houses of worship. WESTFIELD — Thespians from Scotch for more on these upcoming events, Plains-Fan wood High School gave the gill of $teCommunity Ufa, Page B-1, and their talents Tuesday, performing at the annual fttme Time. Page B~3. Christinas party hosted by St. Helen's Romnn expansion of lot Catholic Church on Rahway Avenue. The party was held for homeless residents at Ozanutn, a for temple members, who point GEORGE PACCIELLO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER 90-bed homeless shelter in Edison, and was Kate Warren, 18, e member of the youth min- THE RD-PRESH to a pedestrian accident. In. the sponsored by the youth group of St. Helen's. ' istry at 6t HeMh'e cnureti m Wee Weld,epfxta -area several—years • ago~«rhich This is the third year St. Helen's has hosted some time with 6-year-okl Hannah and Mr. WESTFIELD — The Board of claimed the life of a temple mem- the event, according to Youth Ministry Director Potato Head pt Tuesdays Christmas party. Adjustment denied an amended ber. Patti Gardner. In addition to this event, mem- application by Temple Einnnu-El Proponents of the temple's bers of the youth ministry raise money through- gifts donated by the church. to expand their parking lot expansion said the expanded lot out the year, Twin sisters Emily and Kate Warren of the Monday, concluding months of would alleviate safety concerns In September, for example, members got youth ministry said that volunteering to help the testimony. Though a compromise and address the temple's park- pledges for a sleep-out designed to draw atten- homeless helps them appreciate the compara- proposal drafted on the fly ing needs, while opponents coun- tion to the plight of the homeless. Gardner said tively comfortable lives they lead in Westfield. resulted in a 4-3 vote in favor of tered that the expansion would 25 kids were involved in the ministry's "You really get a feel for what it's like to be the application, approval of the negatively affect property val- Christmas Party project. The kids that help out homeless," saktjS-tUy. temple's proposal required five ues, cause lighting, noise, and enjoy working with the little ones" she said. "You don't aWfpbverty) in Westfield, but it's affirmative votes. The slim drainage problems, and disrupt At the party, children played basketball and not far from us. We're secluded in our towns," majority vote was not sufficient the integrity of a residential games of Twister. Others watched Christmas Kate added. The sisters have been involved with to approve the expansion. neighborhood. enrtoons on a big screen television and were the annual Christmas party since its inception. Due to overcrowding and lim- Many residents who live in served pizza and refreshments courtesy of the "I think it's an enjoyable moment for the resi- ited parking at some temple the area acknowledge the on- church. Later, children baked cookies, decorated dents of the shelter," said Ozanum site manager functions, members who attend street parking affects their qual- stockings, and watched the performance. And the events are forced to park on ity of life, but said the expansion after a visit from Santa Claus, children received (Continued on page A-2) residential streets, This practice has raised concerns about safety (Continued on page A-2) M'tMNM Authorities seize drugs, End of the road Wwi the Fanwood Fin Department vitlted the Westminster Preschool mentiy, Dante Clausen, 4. got to try m hand at the fire hose. See the full guns in heart of county pktunonPageA-8 •yHUDMtHOP SoBa'a primary cocaine supplier is sus- THE RECORD-PRESS pected to be David Hill, 31, n resident of 679 Willow Avenue in Garwood. Mill was County officials Tuesday announced taken into custody during three days of what they are calling the largest seizure of intense operations on Thnnksgiving week. weapon** nnd drugs taken during u single In all, authorities confiscated 23 guns. operation in a deende, and the Prosecutor's 16 kilograms of high-purity cocninfi, 30 Office alleges thnt one of the chief mem- grnmn of heroin, and 8 kilogramx of cut- ber* of the illegal drug distribution ring ting agents commonly used to repackage lives in the tiny community in the middle drugs nt Hill's residence. of suburban Union County. Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. m tight-day Jewish Festival ot "Operution Crackdown," tin eight- Komankow estimated the street value of Utftit begins at sundown Friday month combination of »urveillanci\ under- the drugs ranged between $U) nnd 3 mil- [foal temples and other Jewish cover activity, and . lion, Hill wan VQtntHtiws m planning a host of detective work, charged with poaneii- mWn to celebrate the holiday, ended Tuesday "You're talking about 2,000 vials Bton with the intent tcktding a Hanukkah Shabbat din morning with the to didtribute nnd 23 IW Friday «t imp* BethSI Mekor tnttt round of raid* on per kilogram and up depending count* of unlawful gtHyim m Cmford And at S pm 14 different locution* on how it's cut down, and at $10 paR«p*wion of a fttMty tht Union County Torah in Elianbeth, l(««elle. to $20 each hit that's enough to wenuon. He frtcpc 10- ClhW Witt hat a nwwah lighting mid Newark It 20 yonri* in prinon for Involved nenrchea of supply 180,000 hits of cocaine the firnt chitrKo nnd *, home*, bu»i per week." U'ft yenr« for the rind ?it leiwt if nix high-end luxury — Theodore Romnnkow vehicle* uned in n Union County Prosecutor Aluo crltnp orgnnl*nti«n Hill's llvMri girl- offUiflU y friend, U 1 INDEX of million* fur the topp Mid • .John NUM. T2. r»f ElUnbeth i* tlip *\t* i Lnverde. 32, <>f OI«it.|riU., NY pet'ted lender of the iijirMHtiuti Moan WHO Is !UTU»ett of beihg Ho(t«'« chief «ojt(»li*'r of ^Commentary M tirreMetl fll University MOUJJHHI in Newiirk heroin Hhe wnn nrtwted out»ii)p of the while woverlhjs from n broken \PU Injury Hollntii! Tunnel Nov 'Aft with n nMupnnion * -Community Life •-1 »ufleretf when he Ml ufl'n ln«liler. mithuh- Authorities i otiflntfttetl IVJ,U Brnttifl of hero tlen unld He wm charged with MM* the in worth more than §6o,no« Sports 0-1 leader rtf a narcotic* trRffkkiiig network. Lnveftle «nn chnrged witii |maapBa(Mn twpppjMiinn with intent »n tile-tribute, thutr-i- with the intent to distribute, H rlmrge II nutlttn «f w rontri'llet! tlnhgerou* sub which t'ttrrlen H ptttertttnl pniinltv of 5 j(» ntnnre, Rful fnhsfiiFWV 111 (Uatt'ihllo Venrn Mt prison MOPS fawn 'ih years U> We if Totim! (§Wtuafies 1-2 'tbp invpxtigatioti i* < mil MiMine. th# Hootch Plslnt fnnwoott High School •___J_*_«fiB t« guilty; \m boil *B« «n>t nt l<'l million UP j* although nuthofttiPB i»Ri(| they hi'}'pr| tt» eattM te an dbftipi end Dec It, when the *i^uad Mllt1 j jHH Eitate, C-4 the tiwner tif The Vhtop Shot*.* a tinrtwr |fm\tpfl the feittftinii^t tif the rlruga (hi North J«ft*y 8#etio« 2. Qtmp 3 final *i ir In h on KUfabeth Avenue nesr (tiitHe I in Trivlt Boft ^tiMttoied t«ammfit« Mark OiAtinaet oh A-2 Record Press December 19, 200C Drugs, guns seized Lot expansion denied Accidents claim 2 lives (Continued from page A-l) weighed the detriments to the (Continued from page A-1; (Continued from pagr.